Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women's soccer team, 9-0 overall, 1-0 in the ACC and ranked 16th in the nation, will begin a daunting four-match swing over the next 15 days that will see the Hokies face four programs that are currently ranked in the Top 10. The stretch starts with Tech's first ACC road games of the 2019 season against two teams that are a combined 15-0-2. The Hokies will first battle for a Commonwealth Clash point as they take on No. 1 Virginia on Thursday evening in Charlottesville at 5 p.m. and then head south to Clemson, South Carolina, to face the ninth-ranked Tigers on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Of note, both of these matches will be broadcasted by Regional Sports Network. CLICK HERE to view what affiliates will be broadcasting the game in your local market. For example, NBC Sports Washington will be airing Thursday's match live.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Thursday, September 26 - 5 PM
Klöckner Stadium, Charlottesville, Va.
at No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers (8-0-1, 0-0-1 ACC)
Head Coach: Steve Swanson (20th season, 30th overall)
Record at school: 306-92-46; career: 410-155-57
Series: Virginia leads 15-4-1; Last: Sept. 27, 2018 (W, 1-0)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: Regional Sports Networks; Link: CLICK HERE
Sunday, September 29 - 1 PM
Riggs Field, Clemson, S.C.
at No. 9 Clemson Tigers (7-0-1, 1-0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Eddie Radwanski (9th season; 19th overall)
Record at school: 89-56-19; career: 228-121-32
Series: Tech leads 6-5-4; Last: Oct. 21, 2018 (L, 3-1)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: Regional Sports Networks; Link: CLICK HERE
Top Notes for the Hokies (link to Game Notes pdf packet)
Starting the season unbeaten after nine matches
- For only the third time in program history (2012 and 2014), Virginia Tech has opened the season with nine straight wins and finished its non-conference, regular season slate with a perfect record.
- The nine-match winning streak is tied for the second longest all-time and tied for the second longest unbeaten streak in program history as well. Below are the longest stretches in program history.
Season: Streak - Time frame -Extra Notes
2014: 10 straight wins - Aug. 22 through Sept. 19 - 9-0 non, won ACC opener
2019: 9 straight wins - Aug. 22 through current - 8-0 non, won ACC opener
2012: 9 straight wins - Aug. 17 through Sept. 16 - 8-0 non, won ACC opener
2013: 9 straight unbeaten (W4-T-W4) - Sept. 15 through Oct. 20 - All ACC matches
2015: 9 straight unbeaten (W3-T-W5) - Aug. 21 through Sept. 13 - 8-0-1 non, lost ACC opener
The Hokies versus this weekend's opponents (see more Page 2)
- All-time, Tech is 4-15-1 against Virginia, which includes a 1-0 win at home in last year's meeting.
- The Hokies are just 1-9 in Charlottesville, and have lost four straight there. Their only victory was a 2-1 decision on Sept. 30, 2009 with Julian Johnson netting the game winner in the 75th minute. Kristin Carden saved five shots, including a penalty kick, to become Tech's lone goalkeeper with a win at Virginia.
- Clemson has been a formidable foe the last four meetings, with three wins and a tie against the Hokies, while holding an overall 3-2-1 mark at home.
- Tech's last win over the Tigers was 2014 (2-0, in Blacksburg) and the Hokies haven't won at Clemson since 2012 (3-0), with Ashley Meier scoring the game winner and adding an assist in the victory.
Facing ranked foes and the possibility of four straight
- Currently, the Hokies are set to face four straight ranked opponents, which would mark just the fourth time in program history during the regular season and the seventh time overall.
- Three times Tech has had a stretch of four straight, the last was Sept. 16-Oct. 1, 2016 (0-3-1), while its longest was a six-match span from Sept. 23-Oct. 17 - which included three straight against top 10 teams - at No. 1 UNC (L, 2-1), No. 7 Maryland (W, 1-0) and at No. 4 Boston College (W, 2-1).
- All-time, Tech is 30-85-13 (128 games - 28.5 win percentage) against ranked opponents. Under Adair the past eight seasons, the Hokies are 17-38-7 (33.1), while they were 13-47-6 (24.2) prior.
The first Commonwealth Clash point of 2019-20 is up for grabs
- Building on a tradition started in 1895, the Commonwealth Clash is a head-to-head points-based competition within the 22 varsity sports in which Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia compete against each other. At the end of the season, the institution with the most points is crowned the champion of the Commonwealth Clash.
- Thursday's match between the Hokies and the Cavaliers is presented by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of Virginia Tech Athletics and the University of Virginia Athletics. To learn more about Virginia529 and the competition go to the following link (www.thecommonwealthclash.com).
- Tech, which had won two straight, was edged out by Virginia last season, 12.5 to 9.5. This is the first competition of the 2019-20 Clash.